the first glance ....

Seoul Police Department

The conference room had fallen completely silent.

Sheriff John stared at the evidence table, his brows tightly furrowed. "...Impossible."

The female officer standing beside him slowly nodded. "Sir... we checked the crime scene again this morning."

"The cherries..."

"...they're gone."

John immediately looked up. "Gone?"

"Yes, sir. They disappeared overnight."

"The forensic team confirmed that nobody entered the restricted area."

Another officer stepped forward with a tablet. "And there's something even stranger. We checked every CCTV camera covering the roads leading to the forest. There isn't a single recording."

John frowned."What do you mean?"

"The footage between 2:13 and 2:26 a.m.....is completely black.

"Every camera."

"It wasn't deleted."

"It simply... never recorded anything."

Silence.

John slowly leaned back in his chair. "So we're back to where we started."

"No fingerprints."

"No footprints."

"No witnesses."

"And now.....even the evidence has disappeared."

The room felt colder than before.

For the first time... even experienced officers looked frightened.

...----------------...

Busan

The warm morning sunlight entered through the window. Siju stretched lazily before walking downstairs.

"Good morning, Mom. Morning, Dad."

His mother smiled. "Good morning, sweetheart."

His father folded the newspaper. "We have something to tell you."

Siju sat down. "What happened?"

His mother looked at him with mixed happiness and guilt. "Your father and I won't be able to go to Seoul with you."

He blinked. "What?"

His father sighed. "A very important business meeting came up. I tried to cancel it.....but I couldn't."

"We'll drop you at the airport. But you'll have to manage the rest on your own."

For a second... Siju looked disappointed. Then he smiled softly.

"It's okay. I'll be fine."

His mother gently held his hand. "You've grown up. We trust you."

Siju laughed. "I'll make you both proud."

...----------------...

The Next Morning

Suitcases.

A backpack.

A nervous smile.

Everything was finally packed.

His mother hugged him tightly. "Take care of yourself." His father patted his shoulder. "Call us after you land."

"I will."

As he walked toward the departure gate... he turned back one last time. His parents were still standing there...

waving.

He smiled.

Then disappeared into the crowd.

...----------------...

Seoul

The airport was louder than he had imagined.

People rushed in every direction.

Different languages echoed around him.

"So...

"I'm really here."

His lips curved into a smile. "My new life starts today."

An hour later...

He finally reached his apartment building.

Three large suitcases.

Two heavy bags.

"...Why did I bring so many clothes?" He laughed at himself before struggling to lift the luggage upstairs.

After several failed attempts... he sighed.

"I definitely need help."

He walked toward the nearest apartment and knocked.

A few seconds later... The door opened.

A girl about his age smiled politely. "Hi? You're new here?"

Siju scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah. I just moved here today."

"I'm Siju. I'm studying at Seoul University."

The girl's eyes brightened. "Really? I'm Sia."

"I study there too."

Siju smiled. "What a coincidence. I guess I'll have at least one friend."

Both laughed.

Sia looked at the mountain of luggage. "...That's a lot."

"I know.... I think I overpacked."

Just as Siju and Sia were wondering how to carry the luggage...

Click.

The apartment door beside them slowly opened.

A tall figure stepped out.

For a brief second... the entire hallway seemed to fall silent.

He was dressed in an oversized black hoodie with loose black jeans, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. A silver chain rested around his neck, and small silver piercings decorated his ears. His raven-black hair fell effortlessly across his forehead, partially hiding his deep, unreadable eyes.

He wasn't smiling.

Nor did he look angry.

His face carried no emotion at all.

Yet...

there was something about him that made it impossible to look away.

His sharp jawline, broad shoulders, and calm posture gave him an intimidating presence. He looked like someone who preferred silence over conversations... someone who had built invisible walls around himself.

The air around him suddenly felt colder.

Without saying a word, he locked his apartment and turned to leave.

Jungkook walked past them without saying a single word. His expression never changed.

Not even once.

Siju kept staring until the stranger disappeared down the hallway.

"...He didn't even look at us," Sia sighed. "That's normal. He never talks to anyone."

"But..." Siju interrupted softly. "He did."

Sia frowned. "What?"

"He looked at me."

.

.

.

...****************...

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